The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), acting under the directive of the Federal Government, has announced an immediate and indefinite suspension of all Christian pilgrimages to Israel and the broader Middle East region.
Bishop Stephen Adegbite, Executive Secretary of the NCPC, made the announcement in Lagos during a press briefing, citing recent developments in the region including the imposition of a state of emergency in Israel as grounds for halting all pilgrimage activities.
The suspension applies to trips organized both by the Commission and by private pilgrimage operators.
The decision comes amid escalating conflict in the Gulf region, as the United States and Israel have carried out waves of airstrikes across Iran, while Iran has retaliated with drone and missile attacks against US-aligned countries across the Middle East, a campaign that has claimed several of Iran’s top military and political leaders.
The suspension follows days of Iranian airstrikes targeting several United States facilities across countries in the region, reportedly carried out in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader.
Bishop Adegbite stressed that the safety and well-being of Nigerian pilgrims remain the government’s top priority amid the volatile regional situation.
The announcement came shortly after the last batch of over 500 pilgrims from the 2025 main pilgrimage exercise safely touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. In total, over 4,000 Nigerian Christian pilgrims were successfully airlifted to the Holy Land during the exercise, which began on December 29, 2025, with no reported incidents.
The suspension will remain in force until international travel to Israel is deemed safe. Bishop Adegbite urged Nigerians to exercise restraint and avoid any actions that could undermine national security or diplomatic relations.
The NCPC called on intending pilgrims and state Christian Pilgrims Welfare Boards to remain patient and await further updates as the situation evolves, assuring that arrangements would resume promptly once peace and normalcy are restored to the holy sites and surrounding areas.
